Skip to main content


Appalachian Regional Commission

          
CLOSE
        Appalachian Region
              Data Overview of the Appalachian Region
                      Appalachian States
                      Appalachian Counties Served by ARC
                      County Economic Status and Distressed Areas in Appalachia
                      Tribal Communities in the Appalachian Region
                      Congressional Districts in Appalachia
                      Local Development Districts in Appalachia
      Investment Priorities
              Building Businesses
                      Workforce Ecosystems
                              Addressing Substance Use Disorder
                      Community Infrastructure
                              Transportation in Appalachia
                      Regional Culture and Tourism
                      Community Leaders and Capacity
                              READY Appalachia
                      Investments in Action
      Grants and Opportunities
              About ARC Grants
                              Match Requirements for ARC Grants
                      Funding Opportunities
                              Area Development Program
                                      ARISE InitiativeOpen
                                      INSPIRE Initiative
                                      POWER Initiative
                                      WORC Initiative
                      Capacity Building Opportunities
                              Academies and Institutes
                                      READY Appalachia
                      Additional Opportunities
                              Access to Capital Program
                                      Appalachian Regional Energy Hub InitiativeOpen
                                      J-1 Visa Waiver Program
                                      Local Access Road Program
                      Contract Opportunities
                      Applicant Resources
                      Grantee Resources
                      Approved ARC Projects
      Research and Data
              Research Reports
                      Evaluations
                      Maps
                      Data Report Tool
                      Fact Sheets and Infographics
      Academies and Institutes
              Appalachian Collegiate Research Initiative
                      Appalachian Entrepreneurship Academy
                      Appalachian Leadership Institute
                      Appalachian STEM Academy
      About ARC
              History and Work
                      Structure and Leadership
                              ARC Offices & Staff
                                      State Partners
                                      Local Development Districts
                                      Office of Inspector General
                      Budget, Performance, and Policy
                      Newsroom
                      Careers at ARC
                      Internships at ARC
      SearchSearch
    Search

              Events
      Newsroom
      Get ARC Updates
      Inspector GeneralFacebook
      Twitter
      Youtube
      LinkedIn You are here
    HomeNewsroomNewsKentucky Governor Andy Beshear Named 2023 Appalachian Regional Commission States’ Co-Chair

      	
	
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear Named 2023 Appalachian Regional Commission States’ Co-Chair
	
			January 4, 2023
                **Media Contact:**
											Janiene BohannonARC UpdatesPress Release
	
				
	
	
	*Governor Beshear will work alongside ARC’s Federal Co-Chair Gayle Manchin and fellow Appalachian state governors to boost economic and community growth across the region.*

**WASHINGTON, D.C., January 4, 2023**—Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear has been elected by his fellow Appalachian governors to serve as the 2023 Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) states’ co-chair. As part of ARC’s unique federal-state partnership structure, the states’ co-chair works collaboratively with the ARC federal co-chair and fellow Appalachian state governors to invest in economic and community growth across the region’s 423 counties in 13 states. In addition to facilitating ARC investments across the region, the states’ co-chair also hosts ARC’s annual conference.

Governor Beshear will serve as ARC’s 70th states’ co-chair and the first from Kentucky since his father, former Governor Steven Beshear, served in the role in 2015.

“I am honored to have been chosen by governors of both parties to co-chair the Appalachian Regional Commission. ARC investments are building better lives for current and future generations here in Kentucky and across the ARC region,” said **2023 ARC States’ Co-Chair Governor Beshear**. “Access to quality health care, a good paying job and clean water should not be determined by your zip code. I want to thank my fellow ARC governors for entrusting me with this role and look forward to continuing our important work together.”

“It is my honor to welcome Governor Beshear as ARC’s 2023 states’ co-chair,” said **ARC Federal Co-Chair Gayle Manchin**. “I look forward to continuing to collaborate with him and all of our Appalachian governors as we advance ARC’s mission to bring economic parity and transformational opportunities to the region’s 26 million people. On behalf of the Commission, I also want to thank Governor Larry Hogan of Maryland for his work during his tenure as 2022 states’ co-chair.”

In FY 2022,ARC invested nearly $240 million throughout the region, which attracted an additional $1.57 billion in private investments. The projects funded in FY 2022 will create or retain nearly 22,600 jobs, and provide training to over 41,500 students, workers, and leaders for new opportunities in emerging sectors across the Appalachian region.

ARC also launched two new funding opportunities in FY 2022—the *Appalachian Regional Initiative for Stronger Economies (ARISE)*, a $73.5 million funding opportunity to drive economic growth through large-scale, multi-state collaborations; and *READY Appalachia*, a community capacity-building initiative offering flexible funding to Appalachian nonprofits, community foundations, local governments, and Local Development Districts. Learn more about ARC’s investments in the region in FY 2022.

**About the Appalachian Regional Commission**The Appalachian Regional Commission is an economic development agency of the federal government and 13 state governments focusing on 423 counties across the Appalachian region. ARC’s mission is to innovate, partner, and invest to build community capacity and strengthen economic growth in Appalachia to help the Region achieve socioeconomic parity with the nation. Appalachian Regional Commission

          About ARC Grants
      Grants and Opportunities
      Newsroom
      Contract Opportunities
      Contact ARC
      Careers

  Get ARC News and Updates
    
    
                
  Sign Up Here
    Web and Privacy Policy